The Meaning in Mistletoe - Rachael Bloome Page 0,51

of the rubber against glass seemed to be telling him something. If he didn’t push his anger aside, he wouldn’t be able to see clearly.

Of course, that was easier said than done.

His father’s financial interference resurfaced old wounds.

And the fact that Kat had accepted the money…

Jack’s fingers clenched around the steering wheel.

He couldn’t blame her. She wanted to save the shelter. How could he begrudge her that? She didn’t know he already had a plan in motion. She also couldn’t know his father’s check came with strings attached.

And yet, the reality of these facts didn’t alleviate the sharp pain in his chest. Or stifle the tiny voice that whispered, She chose the money over you, just like Ashley.

He stole a sideways glance in her direction.

Kat stared out the window, although there wasn’t much to see. Beyond the water droplets clinging to the glass, darkness stretched into the distance. Her hands rested in her lap, twisting the ends of her scarf into a tight knot.

Jack instantly softened. She wasn’t Ashley. And she didn’t know the whole story.

“I didn’t realize until my senior year of high school that my dad had my entire life planned out for me.”

At his hushed confession, she stirred, turning to gaze at him in the dimly lit cab.

“His real estate business had been thriving for a few years by then. And the day before graduation, he brought me into his office and offered me a job with the company.” Jack tried to block out visions of that afternoon, but he could still see every detail—the proud expression on his father’s face that instantly turned to anger had been seared into his brain.

“The thing is, he already knew I wanted to work at the diner, and possibly own my own place one day. I started as a busboy at Marty’s Diner when I was sixteen and worked my way up to a prep cook, then an apprentice.”

Jack had spent a few hours every day after school learning everything he could from the retired navy cook. Eventually when he graduated, and his family moved to Primrose Valley, Jack worked full-time as Marty’s right-hand man. Marty and his wife, Bernadette, even let Jack stay in the spare room in their home, eventually arranging for Jack to buy the diner—and pay them back in installments—when they moved to Tennessee.

“When I reminded my dad that I wanted to work for Marty, he laughed in my face.” Jack cringed at the memory. “He said Ashley would never marry a lowly cook at a diner. And I needed to think seriously about my future.”

“That’s awful,” Kat murmured, her tone pained.

He swallowed, his throat raw, as repressed emotions rose to the surface. “Of course, I told my dad he didn’t know what he was talking about. And Ashley and I would be very happy together. That’s when he said I’d regret my decision.” Jack shook his head. “I thought that was just something people said. I didn’t realize it was actually a threat.”

“What happened?” she asked tentatively, almost as if she feared the answer.

“The day of graduation—also the day I planned to propose—Ashley told me that my dad offered her a job. Incidentally, the same job he’d offered me. It included a generous salary and a stipend for college. According to Ashley, she’d be foolish to refuse. The catch? The job was in New York, at an East Coast office he’d opened and wanted to expand.”

“Oh, Jack,” Kat whispered.

“The thing is, my dad told Ashley he’d only given her the job to get under my skin. He was hoping the prospect of losing her would change my mind. But that didn’t matter. She said regardless of how the opportunity fell in her lap, it was too good to pass up.”

To his surprise, he didn’t feel the typical stab of betrayal when he thought about Ashley’s decision. That particular wound seemed to have waned over time. But his anger toward his father? That was alive and well.

“I’m telling you this because my dad sees money as a tool to get what he wants. He’s not altruistic. There’s always an ulterior motive.”

She didn’t respond as they turned down a tree-lined road, approaching the Morning Glory Inn.

“It’s your money,” Jack added. “I won’t tell you what to do with it. But I thought you should know.” He eased into a parking spot and let the engine idle.

They sat in silence a moment, listening to the swish, swish of the windshield wipers and raindrops pitter-patter against the roof of